Velocipede



(No Model.)

T. M. KENNEY VBLOGIPEDE.

. a a 0 4 .6 w M W 1 M 4 1. v w w m g d 6 b n e LL. ow P UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS M. KENNEY, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,060, dated July 1, 1890.

Application filed November 9, 1889. Serial No. 329,732. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS M. KENNEY, of Cambridge, county of Middlesex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Velocipedes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relating to velocipedes is shown embodied in a velocipede or vehicle for two riders, both of whom contribute to the power of propelling the vehicle. The velocipede has two propelling-wheels, between which the riders sit, and the riders seats are supported at the ends of apivoted lever adapted to oscillate in a horizontal plane, so that the body of one rider is moving forward while the other is moving backward, and the ends of said seat-supporting lever are connected with the driving-wheels, which are thus propelled in part by said oscillating movement, which is similar in its character to that of the sliding seat of a boat and performed by substantially the same muscles. Each end of the seat-lever is connected with a hand-lever pivoted to oscillate in a vertical plane, and having one arm provided with a handle to be grasped by the operator and its other arm connected with the driving-wheels, the said connection being made through a ratchet-andpawl or equivalent clutch device, so that the lever propels in its movement in one direction only. The vehicle is provided with a steering-lever adapted tobe operated by the leg of one of the riders.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a velocipede embodying this invention with one of the riders seats removed; Fig. 2, a side elevation thereof and Figs. 3, 4, and 5, details to be referred to, showing the connection between the actuating-levers and the driving-wheels.

The main frame-work of the velocipede is composed of series'of parallel rods or tubes, joined at their ends with suitable connectingpieces, there being a central longitudinal series a between the two riders and two lateral series a a extendingfrom the junction-piece a to the two driving-wheels b. At the forward end of the longitudinal portion a of the frame is an arm (0 in which is pivoted a fork c for the steering-wheel 0 From the longitudinal frame portion a are supported, 011 suitable hangers cl, two platforms (Z to support the feet of the riders, said platforms being provided with suitable braces or stretchers (1 against which the feet of the occupants rest.

On the central connecting-piece a" of the frame-work is provided a stout cross-lever e, upon which are swiveled the two riders seats 6 (one only of which is shown in Fig. 1,) the construction being such that as one rider moves his body backward with relation to the frame-work of the vehicle by thrusting on the braces 01 the other rider moves forward.

The ends of the lever e are connected by links f with levers g, pivoted at g on an. arm or bracket extending from the platform (1 the arm 9 of said lever being connected by a band, strap, or chain h with a drum 7L2, turning loosely on the bearing-arm for the drivin g-wheel, and being connected with the drivin g-wheel by a ratchet-and-pawl or equivalent connection, shown as a ratchet'h on said drum, (see Figs. 4 and 5,) engaging with a pawl or pawls h", connected with the wheelhub 6 so that when the lever g is swung backward on its pivot the drum h is turned and causes the driving-wheel Z) to turn with it in the proper direction to propel the vehicle forward; but when the leverg is swung forward the ratchet turns backward without engaging the driving-wheel, it. being turned backward or retracted preparatory to the next forward or propelling movement by means of a spring h. The upper end of the lever g is provided with a laterally-projecting handle which maybe taken hold of by one or both hands of the operator, so as to give powerful impulses to the driving-wheel in connection With that which is produced by the bodily movement of the seat 6 with the seat-lever e.

The fork of the steering-wheel c is pro vided with a steering-arm 7o, engaged at k by one arm of the lever in, pivoted atm and provided at its end with a laterally-projecting arm 0, having at its end a U-shaped clasp 0 which may pass around the leg of the rider near the knee, so that by swinging the leg to one side or the other the vehicle will be steered in the corresponding direction. The leverm engages the lever 70 by a pin on the one part entering a slot on the other, or equivalent connection, accommodating the movement of the two parts around different centers, and the arm 0 may be adjusted along the lever m, which is provided with several attachingpoints therefor, as shown in Fig. 1, so as to accommodate the rider.

Brakes are provided, consisting of brakeshoes 19, supported on levers p pivoted concentrically with the levers g, and extended to form foot-pieces p upon which the rider may press with the foot in order to apply the brake. The said levers and foot-pieces are shown as made of stout wire bent to the proper shape.

I claim- 1. A velocipede or vehicle comprising, driving and steering wheels and frame-worksup ported thereon, combined with a seat-lever,

ing-wheelsand frame-work supported there I tudinal member a and lateral inembers'a a combined with a seat-lever fulcrumed on the junction of said frame members, foot-platforms supported on said longitudinal member, and driving-wheels ha'vin g their bearings at the ends of said lateral members, said seatlever being operatively connected with said driving-wheels, substantially as described.

a steering-lever connected with said fork and provided with a leg-clasp 0 substantially as andfor the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS M; KENNEY. VVitn'esses:

J os. P. LIVERMORE, J AS. J. lvlALONEY 

